Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

तासां हेतुर्याष्टमी चापि गीता तस्यां तस्यां गीयसे वै त्वमन्तम् दृष्ट्वा मूर्तिं स्थूलसूक्ष्मां चकार देवैर्भावाः कारणैः कैश्चिदुक्ताः //

Transliteration

tāsāṃ heturyāṣṭamī cāpi gītā tasyāṃ tasyāṃ gīyase vai tvamantam dṛṣṭvā mūrtiṃ sthūlasūkṣmāṃ cakāra devairbhāvāḥ kāraṇaiḥ kaiściduktāḥ //

Translation

彼等之因被说为第八日（tithi），亦为歌咏所称；于每一此等时际，汝确被赞为究竟之终极。既见其形，彼遂造作之，使之兼具粗与细；诸天以若干因缘宣说这些状态（bhāva）。

Word by Word

• तासाम् (tāsām): of those (rites/forms)

• हेतुः (hetuḥ): cause, rationale

• या अष्टमी (yā aṣṭamī): the eighth lunar day (Aṣṭamī tithi)

• च (ca): and

• अपि (api): also

• गीता (gītā): sung, celebrated in hymn/tradition

• तस्याम् तस्याम् (tasyāṃ tasyāṃ): in that (occasion) again and again / on each such Aṣṭamī

• गीयसे (gīyase): you are sung/praised

• वै (vai): indeed

• त्वम् (tvam): you

• अन्तम् (antam): the end/culmination, the ultimate goal

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā): having seen/beheld

• मूर्तिम् (mūrtim): form, icon, embodiment

• स्थूल (sthūla): gross, tangible

• सूक्ष्माम् (sūkṣmām): subtle, intangible

• चकार (cakāra): made, fashioned, established

• देवैः (devaiḥ): by the gods

• भावाः (bhāvāḥ): states, modes, dispositions, principles

• कारणैः (kāraṇaiḥ): by causes/reasons

• कैश्चित् (kaiścit): by some, by certain (authorities)

• उक्ताः (uktāḥ): said, declared

Speaker

• Suta (narrating the Matsya Purana tradition; doctrinal voice describing the praised Deity and icon-form principles)

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Aṣṭamī (eighth tithi)
• Mūrti (icon/form)
• Sthūla
• Sūkṣma

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Ritual Tithi
• Bhava-Karana
• Vastu Shastra

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

Rather than Pralaya, the verse emphasizes a doctrinal principle: the Divine is praised as the ultimate end (anta), and the deity can be approached through both subtle (sūkṣma) and tangible (sthūla) forms—an idea often used to explain how transcendent reality becomes worshipable through form.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It supports regular observance and worship tied to sacred calendrical time (Aṣṭamī). For householders (and kings who model public dharma), honoring prescribed tithis and maintaining correct devotional practice—including reverence for the deity as the highest goal—forms part of religious duty and social order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights Aṣṭamī as a recurring worship occasion and stresses correct praise (stuti) of the deity. Architecturally/iconographically, it points to mūrti-construction principles: the image embodies both sthūla (measurable, sculptural features) and sūkṣma (subtle presence/meaning), aligning with Pratimā-lakṣaṇa and installation theology in Matsya Purana–style Vastu and temple practice.